Decision details

Commissioning Higher Education Partner for Step-up to Social Work Programme

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

This report seeks approval for the procurement strategy to commission a Higher Education Partner to work with the local authority to deliver “Step Up to Social Work” Programme.

Fully funded by central Government via a grant from the Department for Education, this innovative programme seeks to train children’s social workers so that, at the end of the course, they gain a Post-Graduate Diploma with the opportunity to obtain credits towards a Master’s degree in Social Work; the objective being that participating local authorities will be better able to attract and retain well-qualified children’s social workers at a time when this is proving difficult nationally.

Decision:

1.1          That the procurement strategy, be approved.

 

1.2          That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Family Services and and Director of Commissioning in consultion with the Cabinet Member for Children and Education to award a six-year contract to a Higher Education Institution with a total value of c.£1,100,000 (c.£380,000 for each of the three potential cohorts).

 

1.3      That the contract will be let by Hammersmith and Fulham Council and will include break clauses at two-year intervals, be noted. The contract will only continue on the basis of satisfactory performance by the Provider and continued funding from the Department for Education.

Report author: Steve Comber

Publication date: 17/01/2017

Date of decision: 16/01/2017

Decided at meeting: 16/01/2017 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: